Chapter 599
Extra: Couple Practice
[I've been staying up too late these past few days and I'm not feeling well. I just saw that some people wanted to see more of Teacher Ouyang's scenes, and she hasn't appeared in a long time, so I'll write a bonus chapter today to make up for it. Thank you for your understanding. The second part of the bonus chapter tomorrow will be free, and I will continue to move forward with the main story.]
“Teacher Ouyang, since we’re going to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend, I think we should use a more intimate way of addressing each other.”
The car windows were tightly closed, keeping out the early winter wind. The car's heater was on full blast, making the air somewhat dry and warm, and even breathing in it felt like there was a dry warmth.
The sunlight spread across the wide highway, like a layer of light gold paint, and the distant horizon was so clean it looked like it had just been washed, with not even a trace of cloud in sight.
Ouyang Lianyu gripped the steering wheel, her gaze fixed straight ahead on the road—she knew better than anyone that if she became distracted, the car could easily have an accident.
If she were alone in the car, it would be fine, but since Han Zhou was also in the passenger seat today, she had to be responsible for the safety of both of them.
Logically speaking, Han Zhou should have been well aware of this as well, but he chose this crucial moment to say something that forced her to be distracted and think things through. I don't know if it was intentional or not.
How about a more affectionate nickname...?
She had no time to be distracted, so she forced herself to suppress her chaotic thoughts and asked in as calm a tone as possible, "Why?"
"Didn't you say that your parents are not easy to fool? We need to do everything we can to make them completely believe in our relationship during that meeting the day after tomorrow?"
Han Zhou first slowly repeated Ouyang Lianyu's original words before continuing, "In the end, isn't the reason we came all this way to the next city today to deepen the realism between lovers?"
"What sense of realism? We just came out to take a few group photos."
Hearing her student earnestly talking about "the realism between couples," Ouyang Lianyu felt a strange unease, but because she needed to focus on driving, she had to suppress her emotions, so her tone sounded somewhat helpless.
Just as Han Zhou said, in order to win this battle, she made a lot of preparations in advance. For example, she taught herself Photoshop skills for several days, and then asked for Han Zhou's photos. She tried to put her selfie and his photos together to create an intimate photo. She even considered putting the printed photos in the most conspicuous place in the living room.
Unfortunately, even after trying her best to learn on her own, she still couldn't master the essentials of Photoshop. In Han Zhou's words, the photos she edited could be used to create an urban legend on a forum—that's how bad her skill level was.
Left with no other choice, she had to find some free time and, steeling herself, ask Han Zhou to go to Chongqing next door to take some real photos together.
"Wherever you take a group photo, why come all the way here?" Han Zhou made no attempt to hide his suspicion.
Ouyang Lianyu wanted to roll her eyes at him, but dared not look away from directly in front of her, so she could only say helplessly, "What if someone sees us?"
As a teacher, taking a photo with a young and handsome student is obviously something that can easily arouse speculation. If someone were to see it, who knows what kind of rumors would spread.
Although this was indeed part of her worries, she herself didn't want to think about it too much. She had never liked driving, so why was she so determined to take this long journey just to take a few photos?
"You're so famous at school, why don't you just say I'm your biggest fan?"
Han Zhou shrugged dismissively. "Besides, even if we're afraid of being seen, we don't need to go to another city, do we?"
Clearly, in his view, this reason is completely untenable.
"Didn't I tell you? It's because the teacher happens to have two tickets to the Starry Sky Art Exhibition. I heard the backgrounds there are very romantic, and the group photos taken there will look better..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ouyang Lianyu regretted it, because if it was just a few photos to appease her family, there was no need to pursue a romantic background.
She didn't know what was wrong with her these past few days. She was indeed preparing to meet her parents the day after tomorrow, but in the process, she seemed to have other thoughts on her mind.
Fortunately, Han Zhou didn't seem to notice this and continued to undermine him, saying, "But as far as I know, there's also a Starry Sky Art Exhibition in Lincheng, and the tickets are the same as those in Yucheng."
Ouyang Lianyu was taken aback, and said blankly, "Is that so? Teacher isn't quite sure..."
"Stop pretending, Teacher Ouyang."
Han Zhou shook his head, a serious expression on his face, as if he had seen through everything. "Unless you hit your head last night, you couldn't possibly not understand something like this."
What if I really made a mistake...?
Ouyang Lianyu really wanted to say that, but she couldn't bring herself to say it, fearing it would invite more ridicule.
After a long while, Han Zhou suddenly let out a long sigh.
“Teacher Ouyang, there’s no need to hide it anymore. I’ve already seen through your intentions.”
"W-what do you mean..."
Ouyang Lianyu felt a surge of nervousness, her knuckles turning slightly white as she gripped the steering wheel. She couldn't explain why her heart skipped a beat when she heard those words.
“Teacher Ouyang, you actually…”
Han Zhou turned to look back, his expression incredibly complex. His hesitant demeanor made Ouyang Lianyu's heart race faster and faster, her breath almost stopping. "...You're actually worried that Guzheng and Yixia will care, right?"
Fortunately, Han Zhou did not give her the answer that frightened her. He just shook his head and smiled, and his tone softened.
“Your worries are unnecessary. Although it’s a bit troublesome, I’ve already explained it to them properly, so you don’t need to be so hesitant. Since I promised to help you, I will do my best. So, apart from taking a group photo, let’s treat today as a ‘couple’s practice’.”
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Lianyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The heart that had been in her throat instantly dropped, replaced by an indescribable sense of loss.
"So that's what you meant..."
"What else did you think it was?"
"nothing."
Ouyang Lianyu shook her head vigorously, her gaze still fixed straight ahead. She raised her hand to adjust her glasses, trying to hide her momentary panic, and changed the subject, asking, "What is 'couple practice'?"
Han Zhou smiled slightly and said meaningfully, "Simply put, no matter who asks us today, we must firmly answer that we are a couple—if you want to deceive others, you must first deceive yourself."
Just like how to fool Guzheng, you have to believe in front of her that Yixia and I are just ordinary friends... he silently added in his heart.
But to Ouyang Lianyu, this seemingly pointed remark was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples upon ripples.
She quietly tightened her grip on the steering wheel: "So that's how it is. The teacher thought..."
"You think 'couple practice' means practicing holding hands, hugging, and kissing with me?" Han Zhou looked at him with a half-smile.
Before Ouyang Lianyu could even feel embarrassed or angry, he immediately denied it, saying, "You are my teacher, how could I have the audacity?"
Ouyang Lianyu was slightly taken aback, then immediately put on a stern face: "You mean, if I weren't your teacher, you would have dared to do that?"
Han Zhou smiled but remained silent.
Based on his first impression, he couldn't sense any authority from this teacher and instead got used to teasing her, and today was no exception.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Ouyang Lianyu didn't press the matter further and changed the subject with a slightly flushed face: "What did what you just said have to do with us needing an affectionate nickname?"
"Since we're going to announce to the public today that we're a couple, it would be best to keep our teacher-student relationship a little secret."
Han Zhou smiled and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "So I can't keep calling you Teacher Ouyang, can I?"
"Why must we hide our teacher-student relationship?" Ouyang Lianyu asked subconsciously.
She knew the answer to the question, of course, but she still couldn't help asking.
Han Zhou paused for a moment, then said, "It's okay not to hide it. The main thing is that this is a rare opportunity, and I especially want to change how I address you today."
The question had made Ouyang Lianyu a little embarrassed, so she simply went along with it and asked, "What's your name?"
Han Zhou hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Xiao Yu?"
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
The next second, Ouyang Lianyu's cheeks flushed red, and she almost stepped on the gas pedal. She glared at him, her eyes wide with embarrassment and anger: "How old are you to dare call Teacher Xiaoyu? You have no manners!"
Honestly, this child is becoming less and less respectful of his teachers.
Han Zhou, thick-skinned as ever, said nonchalantly, "But adding 'Xiao' before a name makes it a nickname, doesn't it?"
"My surname is a compound surname!"
"That's called Xiao Lianyu?"
"No, she's not as good as Xiaoyu!"
Ouyang Lianyu got goosebumps and quickly interrupted his rambling thoughts, saying in embarrassment and annoyance, "You're so much younger than me, if you call me Xiao...Xiaoyu, then what should I call you?"
Han Zhou pondered for a moment.
"Uncle Long." (End of Chapter)